The spreading of few ‘powerful’ languages to the detriment of numerous ‘weak’ languages has led to the endangerment of many idioms, a process caused by three main factors: linguistic imperialism and globalization, the language policies traditionally adopted by nation-states, and language shift. Some theoretical frameworks justify the impoverishment of linguistic diversity according to an instrumentalist viewpoint, while others support linguistic diversity. Two documents by UNESCO, for instance, underline the importance held by languages in relation to the I(ntangible) C(ultural) H(eritage), not only as vehicles of culture, but also as part of the ICH themselves. Other theoretical frameworks stress the importance of linguistic diversity according to both an ecolinguistic perspective and a rights-oriented approach. From these starting points, the expression ‘ecolinguistic capital’ is proposed to designate that particular intangible capital by implying an anthropocentric view, and composed of three interrelated elements: languages, individuals and places.

Pastaraisiais metais dėka kalbos planavimo iniciatyvų, kurios inter alia apima kalbų pripažinimą politiniu lygmeniu, susidomėta kalbų išsaugojimo klausimais. Šiame straipsnyje pristatomas tyrimas pagrįstas dichotomine situacija: kalbos, turinčios oficialiosios kalbos statusą ir plačiai vartojamos įvairiose institucijose, ir kalbos, kurios tokio statuso neturi ir yra priskiriamos dialektų kategorijai. Kadangi skirtumai tarp kalbų ir dialektų yra iš esmės sociolingvistiniai, o ne vien tik kalbiniai, netikslinga kalbos oficialųjį statusą laikyti atskaitos tašku kalbų išsaugojimo procese. Be to, žinant, kad oficialiosios kalbos statusas paprastai suteikiamas tik mažam skaičiui kalbų, siekiant išsaugoti kalbas, neturinčias oficialiosios kalbos statuso, reikalingi kiti sprendimai. Vienu iš tokių sprendimų galėtų būti dialektų planavimo iniciatyvos, kurių pagrindinis tikslas ne plėsti kalbos vartojimą įvairiuose domenuose, o siekti ją išsaugoti. Šiame tyrime dialektų planavimas analizuojamas apimant penkis etapus: (1) tekstyno planavimas pirmiausia susijęs su kalbų dokumentavimu; (2) statuso planavimas, apimantis tam tikras kalbos išsaugojimo iniciatyvas, be oficialaus statuso pripažinimo kalbinių teisių atžvilgiu; (3) prestižo planavimas – pusiausvyros išlaikymas tarp kalbų ir dialektų, pasižyminčių „silpnesniu“ statusu, skatinant kalbų vartotojų suvokimą, kad kiekviena kalba yra neatsiejama kultūros dalis; (4) kalbų mokymo planavimas, apimantis kalbų mokymo strategijas; (5) kalbos vartojimo šeimoje planavimas, skirtas stiprinti kalbos vartojimo tradicijas šeimoje

The prevailing globalization, technological advancement, increasing mobility of people, democratic upheavals and prospering market economics condition rapidly shifting social environment which, in turn, brings forth swift changes in culture and communities. The understanding of learning about the cultural and architectural heritage, its protection and promotion possibilities are strongly influenced by rapidly spreading technological innovations. The spread of the Internet and commonly accessible benefits, offered by the Global Positioning System (GPS), created the possibility for the formation of a new virtual geocaching movement, the activities of which were united on the www.geocaching.com website. The GPS, which originated in the United States of America in 1970, has been kept as a military secret for a long time. The new and advanced version was adapted to be freely used by the civilians; however, it had a rather significant error of up to 100 meters. Yet, as on May 2, 2000, the resolution passed by the President Bill Clinton prohibited the military from blocking the GPS signals. D. J. Ulmer, an engineer from the USA State of Oregon, made use of this situation and on May 3, 2000 hid a container in a forest, which he gave a rather peculiar name of “the Great American GPS Stash Hunt”. Its coordinates were posted on one of the GPS user websites. This was the start of the virtual geocaching movement which currently has over 6 million of registered users promoting an active lifestyle and an attractive way of learning about the environment by offering each member of the society a possibility to present his or her well known locations through an individual prism of vision and perception. Geocaches are included in the non-formal education programs in many countries and are used as an appealing method to promote both material and non-material heritage.[...]